Tea at the press of a button? Hot water taps explained

Taps that dispense boiling water are the latest cool gizmos for the kitchen, but are they worth the high price tag and how do they compare on cost with boiling a kettle the old-fashioned way?

Hot water taps are the fatest way to prepare your cuppa. Hot water taps provide near-boiling water at the press of a button rather than having to idly wait for your kettle to boil.

While hot water taps are expensive to buy and install, they're fairly cheap to run: Quooker claims it costs just 3p a day to use its hot water tap compared to the 2.5p it costs, on average, to boil your kettle on full capacity. AEG states that their ProSource hot water tap uses just under 50% less energy to boil water than an electric kettle – based on a family of four, with gas water production using 0.5L per person per day.

They're space savers, too, as the accompanying water tank is neatly tucked away below the sink - but do bear in mind that you’ll be losing cupboard space, so ensure you measure first. Most manufacturers have the option of a standalone hot water tap with accompanying mixer tap or alternatively, there is the option of a single tap for hot, cold and boiling water. Some even produce sparkling water!

All the taps we recently tested had child-proof safety features and insulated sides. Many also have a fine spray rather than solid jet, so hands can quickly move out of the way.

For us, the convenience of instant hot water and also the sleekness of some of their designs was a big plus point.

However, if you’re not swayed, here are some useful tips to take on-board if you can’t do without your electric kettle:
- Only fill the kettle with the amount of water that you need. You'll save yourself around £7 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
- Use your kettle to boil water for cooking and not the hob, according to British Gas. It’s quicker and uses less energy.
- If buying a new kettle, check it has the auto switch-off feature. This means the kettle switches off within seconds after boiling to prevent electricity being wasted and the kettle boiling dry.
- It’s worth looking out for quick-boil, one touch/cup or eco-friendly kettles: a new generation of kettle can produce a cup's worth of boiling water within seconds, saving up to 50% of energy. These 'quick boil' kettles generally have a water reservoir, dispense water at the touch of a button and are far more energy efficient than traditional kettles.